Boat loader for automobiles



July 21, 1959 L. J. GEBHART' BOAT LOADER FOR AUTOMOBILES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 31, 1955 I INVENTOR Leonard; J Gebka m ATTORNEY Filed July 31, 1953 y 21, 1959 L.IJ. GEBHA'RT 2,895,628

' BOAT LOADER FOR AUTOMOBILES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT OR Zeona rd J. Gebkarz ATTORNEY 1 axis.

Unite States Patent 2,895,628 BOAT LDADER FOR AUTOMOBHJES Leonard J. Gebhart, St. Paul, Application July 31, 1953, Serial No. 371,616 9 Claims. (Cl. 214-450) have been arranged so that the boat may be swung for-' wardly on a transversely pivoted frame from a position to the rear of the car into a position on top of the car.

The present device comprises an apparatus for pivotally supporting the rear end of a boat so that it can be swung into longitudinal alignment with the car.

An object of the present invention resides in the provision of a standard which is secured to one end of the car to extend upwardly therefrom and which is provided near its upper end with a pivotally supported bracket. This bracket is designed to accommodate the rear end of a light boat. When a boat is supported at one end by the bracket, the other end of the boat may be swung about a substantially vertical pivot over the car and into longitudinal alignment therewith.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a standard designed to extend upwardly from one end of the car. A bracket is pivotally supported on the standard for pivotal movement about a generally vertical The bracket includes a clamping device which may be clamped to one end of the boat. Accordingly, the other end of the boat may be lifted and swung over the top of the car to rest thereupon.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a car loading device including a vertical standard with a bracket pivotally supported near the upper end thereof about a vertical axis and including a clamping bracket which is pivotally supported thereto about a generally horizontal axis. Accordingly, the clamping bracket may be pivoted to accommodate a portion of the boat such as the transom thereof and the other end of the boat may be swung vertically as well as horizontally.

An added feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a boat loading device of the type described which includes a generally U-shaped or channel shaped bracket described to accommodate a portion of the boat such as the transom thereof. Clamping means are provided for holding the bracket in proper position relative to the transom. When the boat is engaged the opposite end thereof may be lifted or lowered and the entire boat may be swung about a vertical axis so as to overlie the top of the car.

These and other objects are novel features of my invention may be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification;

, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a car showing the boat in position thereupon.

Figure 2 is a sectional view through the upper. portionice of the loading device showing the arrangement of parts therein.

Figure 3 is an elevative view of the upper portion of the loading device.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the clamping device forming a part of the loading apparatus.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the clamping device shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the pivotal support for holding the clamping device illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.

The loading device A is designed for use upon an automobile B or other suitable vehicle. In the preferred arrangement, the loading device is attached to the rear end of the automobile B, although it will function equally well when attached to the opposite end thereof. The main advantage of the preferred arrangement is to avoid obstructing the view of the driver and to support the boat in a position where it will be less likely to block the view of the occupants of the vehicle.

As shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, the loader A is attached to a car bumper 110 or to an adjoining portion of the frame of the car. A trailer hitch 11 is shown attached to-the bumper 10 and includes a generally horizontal flange 12 which projects away from the bumper. The particular design of the hitch 11 is not important in the present invention and this device may comprise any of numerous hitches available on the present market. Most such devices employ an attached ball, which is removed in the present arrangement.

The loading device A includes a vertical standard 13 which is secured to the flange 12 of the hitch 11 to extend upwardly therefrom. In a particular arrangement illustrated the lower end of the tubular standard 13 is provided with a closure plate 14 through which a threaded bolt 15 extends. The bolt 15 is anchored to the end closure 14 and may comprise an integral part thereof. The main purpose of this arrangement is to provide a threaded shank 16 projecting downwardly from the standard 13 which may extend through a suitable aperture 17 in the flange 12 (normally used tov support the trailer hitch ball). One or more nuts 19 may be provided upon the shank 16 to permit connection of the parts.

A collar 20 is supported encircling the standard 13 at a point adjustably spaced from the top of the standard and this collar is held in place by a pin extending through the standard 13 or by a set screw 21. This collar is for the purpose of supporting the mounting bracket which is best illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings. The mounting bracket is illustrated in general by the numeral 22 and includes a cylindrical sleeve 23 having a lug 24 projecting laterally therefrom. The sleeve 23 is of proper internal diameter to rotatably accommodate the tubular standard 13. A transverse aperture 25 extends through the lug 24 to accommodate a transverse pivot which will be later described.

A bracket 26 is pivotally supported upon the mounting bracket 22. The bracket 26 includes a plate 27 of suitable outline which is designed to extend along the outer surface of the rear transom 29 of the boat B, as best illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. The bracket 26 also includes a base flange 30 which is designed to extend beneath the upper edge of the inverted rear transom 29. A pair of arms 31 projects upwardly from the base plate 30 in spaced relation to the plate 27. These arms 31 are designed to support bosses 32 at the upper ends thereof. These bosses 32 have apertures 33 extending therethrough in generally parallel relation to the base flange 30. The bosses 32 are internally threaded to accommodate clamping bolts 34, the ends of which are movable toward or away from the plate 27.

. .In the present construction the clamping bolts 34 are -"loadingdevice', and while a ball and socket joint not illustrated in detail in the drawings. The bolts 34 are designed to urge the clamping plates 35 against the inner surface of the 'boat transom 29,

much in the same manner as theclamps of an outboard motor engage the boat transom.

Means are provided at the ends of the clamping bolts 34 opposite the ends supporting the clamping plates 35 to permit rotation of these clamping bolts. In preferred form these ends of the clamping bolts are bifurcated to accommodate a projecting portion 36 of a handle arm 37. One arm 37 is pivotally connected at 39 to. each clamping bolt 34 and normally extends at substantially right angles thereto. so that the bolts maybe readily tightened. A pair of transversely extending bearing lugs 40 are provided on the under surface of'the base flange 30 and are provided with aligned bearing apertures 41 extendingtherethrough. L The bearings 40 are spaced apart a distance sufiicient to accommodate the lug 24 of A.pivot bolt 42extends through the aligned bearings 40 and through the aperture, 25 of the lug 24 to pivotally connect the bracket portion the bracket 22 therebetween.

26 to the mounting bracket 22. The pivot bolt 42 is shown in Figure 3 in the form of a threaded bolt having one or more locking nuts 43 for holding'the bolt in i "clamping'plat'es areusually' c'onnectedto the bolts 34 with 4 of the following claims without departing from the spirit of'my invention.

I claim:

1. A boat loading device for loading one end of a boat upon a car, the device including in combination a vertical Standard extending upwardly from an end of the car, bracket means attached to the one end of a car for supporting said standard, abracket pivotally supported upon said standard, said bracket. including a rotatable support mounted on a vertical axis with respect to said standard for pivotally-supporting said bracket and an end of the boat for pivotal movement about the vertical axis of the standard, and meansfor securingthe other end of the boat overlying the top. of the car upon its horizontal rotation thereover with the aid of said vertical standard, said rotatable support and pivotal bracket.

2. A boat loading device for loading one end of a boat upon the top of a car, the device including. in combination a vertical standard. extendingupwardly from an end of the car, a rotatable support mounted on the .vertical aris of said standard, a bracket pivotally supported on said support and movable therewith about a substantially vertical axis relative to Said standard, adjustable mountplace. In the preferred arrangement thebearihgs 40 terminate at their outer ends short'of the 'lateral sides of the base flange so that the bolt head 44'and the" :nut 43 do not project beyond the sidesof the'fiange 30. I

A cap 48 or other similar closure is normallyprovided a collar 45 encircles the standard13 above 'the vertical at the upper end of the standard 13. In usualpractice bearing 23 so as to hold this bearing fromvertical rnoveor pin.

ment. This collar is held from movementb'y a' 'setscrew In the operation of the apparatusfthe car'B'is'rnoved into a position in which the backofthe'car is adjacent to the back of the inverted boat'C. Alternatively,-the boat may be angularly related to the car. In loading the boat,

the back of the boat is lifted untilthe boat'transom 29 may be positioned between the beating plate'26'and the clamping plates 35 of the clamping bolts 34; The *clamp ing bolts 34 may then be tightened, so'asito'clarnp the boat transom against the bearing plate 26.

The forward end 46 of the boat Cmay thenbe lifted and swung into longitudinal alignment with'ithe car B. A transversally extending car'rack1orsuppbrt-47 of any suitable type is mounted uponthe1car top 49 near the forward end of. the top and the boat is rested upon this support 47. Anchoring means, "not -illustrated 'in the ing means for positioning said rotatable support relative to said standard, means on said bracket for accommodating an end of' the boat, said boat being rotatable about said vertical axis over the top of the car.

3.. A boat loading device for loading .a boat onto the top of a car, the device including in. combination a'standard secured to, and extending upwardly from, an end of the car,'bracket means for connecting the lower end of said. standard to a car, a clamping bracket supported by said standard, said clamping bracket including a horizontally pivotal arm attached on the vertical axis of said standard-for supporting said bracket, and said-bracket having means thereupon for engaging an end of the boat, the opposite end of the boat being vertically movable and horizontally rotatable to swing the said opposite end of the boat over the top of a car.

' 4; A boat loading device including in combination a vertical standard designed for attachment to an end of a car to extend upwardly therefrom, bracket mounting means for supporting the standard, a boat rotating bracket portion rotatably secured near the upper end of said standard and-designed to rotate a boat about the generally vertical axis of said standard, a second bracket portion a generally horizontal axis, said secondbracket' portion drawings, then is placed over theforward'e'nd of theboat,

connecting the boat to the support 47 insuch a manner as toprevent lateral or vertical movement of the' forward end of the boat. As various types-of supports"47 are readily availablefor accomplishing this pnrposejthe detailed structure is not illustrated in the drawings.

The unloading of the boat is areverseprocedure from that described. The fastening means holding'the front end of the boat is removed and'theforward end of the The clamping bolts 34 are then released and the rear of the boat is lifted out of the clamping bracket and lowered.

boat is swung clear of the top and rested upon the ground.

While in the particular arrangement illustrated the standard 13 is secured to the rear bumperof the car, it

is obvious that thisstandard could also be secured to the forward part of the car. lnthis case'the front of the,

boat is swung reanwardly and'the transversed car top the boat overlying the top of the car. In accordance with the'patent-statutes I have described the best embodiment thereof, -I desire to have itunder- 1 stood thatobvious changes'may-be made within, t e scopeincluding aclamping plate designed to extend along one side of an end of the boat, and clamping-meanson said secondbracket portion designed to engage against the opposite side of said end of the boat to hold the boat engaged therebetween.

- support 47 is properly positioned to-support the end of 5. A boat loader for use in loading a boat, having a transverse transom, upon the top of a car,: including in combination a standard extending upwardly from an end of the car, a first boat mounting bracket portion rotatably secured to the upper portion of said standard for free pivotal movement of said boat mounting bracket: about a substantially vertical pivot with respect to the said standard, adjustable mounting means .for said first bracket, a

second boat holding bracketportion pivotally secured to the first bracket portion for free pivotalzmovement of said boat holding bracket about a substantiallyhorizontal pivot, said second bracket portion'includinga plate designed to extend along one side of the boat transom, and

means on said-second bracket portion for-clamping said transomagainst said plate.

6. A boat loading device for loading a boat; having a =transverse transom, uponthe top' of a car, the device in- I eluding in. combination a standard-extending:upwardly from an end of the car, a first boat mounting bracket por- :'tion rotatably secured to said standard along a generally freelyavertical pivotal axis with respect to saidstandard,

a second boat holding bracket portion secured to said first boat tmountingrportion along a generally freely'horizontally pivotal axis with respect to said first bracket portion, said second bracket portion including clamping means designed to extend along one side of said transom, and means on said second bracket portion designed to engage against the other side of said transom to clamp said transorn against said first named clamping means on said second bracket portion, whereby said first boat mounting bracket portion supports one end of a boat freely rotatable on a vertical axis over the top of a car and said second bracket portion supports a boat freely pivoted on a horizontal axis over the top of a car.

7. The construction described in claim 6 and in which the last named means includes means movable toward and away from said first named clamping means of said second bracket portion.

8. The structure of claim 6 including an adjustable bracket support for adjustably mounting said first boat mounting bracket portion in a selective position along the vertical length of said standard.

9. A boat loading device for use with a vehicle comprising a vertical upright rigidly secured to a bumper of said vehicle, a clamp provided with swiveling connection means between the clamp and the upright permitting rota- 6 tion of the clamp about a vertical axis, said clamp having means adapted to engage the stern wall of a boat preparatory to swinging the boat to rest its position upon the roof of a vehicle, said swiveling connection means including a shaft depending from the clamp structure, said upright being in the form of a tube for receiving the shaft, said shaft being rotatable about a vertical axis of the tube, and hinge means connecting the clamp and the shaft permitting pivotal movement of the clamp about a horizontal axis.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,688,148 Martin Oct. 16, 1928 1,688,765 Veras Oct. 23, 1928 2,220,220 Cusimano Nov. 5, 1940 2,366,950 Wright Jan. 9, 1945 2,432,732 Del Cano Dec. 16, 1947 2,486,316 Morse Oct. 25, 1949 2,529,686 Green Nov. 14, 1950 2,561,119 Harder July 17, 1951 2,772,799 Bridinger Dec. 4, 1956 

